Tokyo

[NEWKID 27,227]

10 minutes ago, jukel123 said:

A good friend's daughter works in the travel industry and gets free tickets to destinations of her choice. She prefers Japan every time and takes her family there twice a year.

She likes the politeness, the safety, the food, the endless people watching and the feeling of being immersed in a totally different culture.

I like to read about Japan: the insularity of the country , the loneliness of the old,  the manic work culture and the refusal to consider immigration to fill vacancies,  despite an exceptionally low birth rate.

For a highly developed and sophisticated country they have one of the lowest ages of consent: 13! Weird.

I would love to go but the Mrs won't have it. Do you need an old geezer to carry the bags? I'll sleep in the bath.

Meet you at Heathrow on 19th Feb mate, you'll regret the bag carrying offer when you meet my wife!

[jukel123 8,299]

1 minute ago, Daniel cain said:

I've heard it's exceptionally clean in every town and city...it's polite to take off ones footwear when entering someone's house etc .. would love to go myself and explore the mountains out there

Check out the routine when you go to get petrol in Japan from a forecourt on Youtube. Somebody to fill your car,somebody to wipe your windscreen  and a cashier. They all give a synchronised bow when you leave.

That habit of taking off your shoes is civilised. We take our shoes off at the door and I know people who request you remove your shoes when you visit. It makes sense. Stops dog shit being trodden through your house for a start.

[jukel123 8,299]

There's a similar video I can find where the staff all bow as you leave. How do they make a profit with such high labour costs?

Edited 4 hours ago by jukel123

[mushroom 13,129]

3 hours ago, TOMO said:

I would think mackem is your man for this subject...I wonder if your to early for the cherry blossom...?

What about a trip on a bullet train...

Visit Mt FUJI..

Hiroshima...Nagasaki....maybe not the happiest of places but I assume there's a visitor centre and a tour....might be interesting...

I always think local markets are great places to see culture...free as well...until the Mrs stats spending...lol

My Ex used to sell trips to reciting places Manchu pichu etc. the Cherry blossoms is October if I remember correctly and it’s a nightmare for crowds and tourists in the main national park. Search for Exxottica.com

[TOMO 26,373]

Late March early April apparently...northern  hemisphere mate same as us 

[NEWKID 27,227]

Yeah Cherry blossom is March, may see a bit if early bloom but probably too early..

[NEWKID 27,227]

1 hour ago, mushroom said:

My Ex used to sell trips to reciting places Manchu pichu etc. the Cherry blossoms is October if I remember correctly and it’s a nightmare for crowds and tourists in the main national park. Search for Exxottica.com

Planning 5/6  weeks through South America leaving late December... I'll be bending your ear nearer the time lol

[NEWKID 27,227]

You do get a plum blossom in Feb, I've read, not sure how it compares though.

Fuji and bullet train are a couple of musts for me... I love food touring though, I'll try pretty much anything as will my daughter..the wife is getting there, 24 years of tough training lol

[mushroom 13,129]

No worries  

Their website is www.exoticca.com have a look at what they have and I’ll connect you. 

[chartpolski 24,057]

There’s  wild deer wandering around the town of Nara and you can hand feed them.

Cheers.